POTTSVILLE — The Pottsville City Council approved lowering the preliminary plat fee from $30 per lot to $3 per lot during its regular meeting Monday.

"We found out that's really excessive," Mayor Jerry Williams said of the current fee. "Most are $3 to $5, and some are as low as $2."

Fire Chief Brad Judkins told the council the fire department received a 2002 Freightliner 2,000-gallon tanker engine, which will replace the 1989 Mack engine the department currently has. Judkins said people have approached him about purchasing the Mack.

The council approved opening the 1989 Mack engine for bids and allowing Judkins to accept the highest bid.

Aldermen voted to allow Judkins to purchase $16,500 in new extraction equipment, and to move the current equipment to Station 2 to be used as reserve. The current extraction equipment was bought more than 10 years ago and it was about eight years old at that time, Judkins said.

The council approved purchasing a $10,000 Jaws of Life for the fire department.

Alderman Milton Eoff said he would like an ordinance requiring containers at building sites to be covered. The council voted to table the issue until next month's meeting.

The council voted against taking any action concerning trailers parking on the streets, a matter stemming from a complaint Williams brought up at the council's February meeting.

"I've been checking on it since last month's meeting," Eoff said. "They don't take up any more space than a car parked on the street."

Eoff said he didn't think an ordinance was appropriate.

"There's nothing in the deed that restricts them from parking on the street," he said.

City Attorney Jeff Phillips said the council was within its rights.

"It's a city street and not a personal property," Phillips said.

Also Monday, the council approved having a 50-foot lot condemned for eminent domain.

"Nobody has paid taxes on it since 1994," Williams said.

The lot borders the building next to City Hall the council recently purchased.